Adapter system for engine flushing apparatus

Abstract

Flushing apparatus for internally cleaning internal combustion engines includes an adapter system with sets of both oil port filter port and oil drain plug port adapter sets. For a kigiven engine a selected oil filter port adapter couples the fluid conduit from the flushing apparatus to the oil filter port on the engine block with the adapter allocating the flow of fluid between the two passages in that oil filter port in a predetermined ratio, approximately a ratio of 4 to 1, irrespective of the diameter of the oil filter port passages. A universal coupling member to which the adapter attaches is formed of two parts rotatably mounted to one another and includes a rotary gland. The companion set of oil drain plug port adapters for the flushing apparatus includes a universal coupling member of like construction.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An improved engine flushing system for circulating flushing fluid through internal combustion engines of a plurality of makes and models to clean said internal combustion engines, said engines being of the type containing an engine block, an oil drain pan having an oil drain plug port and an oil filter port on said engine block, said oil filter port including a first oil passage into said engine block for routing oil from the oil filter port to the crankshaft and other internal engine components and a second oil passage for routing fluid from the drain pan and oil pump to said oil filter port; said flushing system including: flushing apparatus for delivering a volume of flushing fluid and receiving used flushing fluid for a predetermined interval of time;   first hose means for conducting flushing fluid from said flushing apparatus to said oil filter port and second hose means for conducting flushing fluid from said oil drain plug port to said flushing apparatus;   a set of oil filter port adapters, said adapters individually or in combination being capable of connecting said first hose means to the oil filter port of any of said plurality of makes and models of engines;   said flushing apparatus and said adapters providing a predetermined flow of flushing fluid into said first oil passage and a second predetermined flow of flushing fluid into said second oil passage, said first predetermined flow to said second predetermined flow bearing a predetermined relatively constant ratio, irrespective of the make and model of said selected engine; and wherein said adapter set includes: a set of primary adapters, each of said primary adapters having a first passage means for fluid communication with said first oil passage means of said oil filter port and second passage means for fluid communication with said second oil passage means of said oil filter port; said first passage means having a given cross section area and said second passage means having another cross section area; and wherein the ratio of the cross section area of said first passage means to the cross section area of said second passage means in each of said primary adapters is such that the ratio of fluid flow between the first and second passage means is a constant.       
     
     
       2. An adapter system for use with an internal combustion engine flushing apparatus, which permits universal connection to the oil filter port and oil drain pan of a large number of different sizes and types of internal combustion engines for introducing flushing fluid through the oil filter port and draining of said fluid through the oil drain pan port, said oil filter port containing a hollow cylindrical mounting post, said hollow in said cylindrical mounting post defining a first passage through which oil is supplied to the engine components from said oil filter port during engine operation and a second passage from the oil pump in said internal combustion engine through which oil is supplied to said oil filter port during engine operation, said adapter system comprising: a flushing system adapter set, comprising a primary adapter set and a secondary adapter set, said primary adapter set comprised of a plurality of adapter pieces which are selectively usable at the oil filter port individually or in combination with a selected one of said secondary adapters fitting to the oil filter port of substantially most internal combustion engines and creating a liquid tight seal therewith   each said primary adapter within said set of adapters including: a body having an inlet and an outlet side and defining first and second fluid passage means between said inlet and outlet sides, said body including means for coupling said first fluid passage means to said first passage of said oil filter port, and said second fluid passage means to said second passage of said oil filter port;   said first fluid passage means having a first predetermined cross section area sufficient to surround said first passage of said oil filter port, said first passage of said oil filter port having a cross section area, A1, and said second fluid passage means having a predetermined cross section area, At, such that the ratio of flow through said A1 and At is a predetermined constant;     coupling means for coupling said inlet side of said primary adapter to receive flushing fluid from a flushing apparatus, whereby said flushing fluid is distributed in said body between said first and second fluid passage means; and   a drain pan port adapter set comprised of a plurality of adapter pieces which are selectively usable at the drain pan port, said drain pan port adapter pieces individually fitting the drain pan port of substantially most internal combustion engines and creating a liquid tight seal therewith.   
     
     
       3. The invention as defined in claim 2, wherein said predetermined constant is approximately 4. 
     
     
       4. The invention as defined in claim 2, wherein said second fluid passage means comprises a plurality of individual passages for conducting fluid in parallel, each of said individual passages having a cross section area smaller than At and wherein the sum of the cross section areas thereof in total is no greater than At. 
     
     
       5. The invention as defined in claim 2, wherein said coupling means comprises: a first base portion and a second base portion, said base portions defining an axially extending fluid passage therethrough;   said first base portion, including conduit coupling means for coupling to a hose from said flushing equipment;   said second base portion, including thread means for coupling to said oil filter post adapter;   said first base portion being rotatably mounted to said second base portion to permit said first base portion to be rotatably moved relative to said second base portion; and   rotary gland means, said rotary gland means being mounted between said first and base second portions for preventing leakage of fluid from said fluid passage from the juncture between said first and second portions without restricting rotatable movement therebetween.     
     
     
       6. The invention as defined in claim 5, wherein said rotary gland comprises: O-ring seal means defining a circle, said O-ring seal means frictionally engaging said first and second base portions and circumscribing said fluid passage to provide a fluid seal between said base portions, while permitting one of said base portions to frictionally slide against said O-ring seal means responsive to relative rotational movement between said first and second base portions.   
     
     
       7. The invention as defined in claim 5, wherein said rotary gland comprises: a slot in at least one of said base portions, said slot extending in a circle circumscribing said fluid passage; and   O-ring seal means defining a circle, said O-ring seal means being seated in said slot and being adapted to engage said first and second base portions to provide a fluid seal therebetween while permitting said base portions to rotationally move relative to one another with slidable frictional engagement with said O-ring seal means.   
     
     
       8. An adapter set for use with an internal combustion engine flushing apparatus permitting connection of a conduit from the apparatus at the oil filter port leading to the lubrication system of the internal combustion engine, said oil filter port containing a first passage through which oil is supplied to the engine components from said oil filter port during engine operation and a second passage from the oil pump in said internal combustion engine through which oil is supplied to said oil filter port during engine operation, said adapter set comprising: a flushing system adapter set, comprising a primary adapter set and a secondary adapter set, said primary adapter set comprised of a plurality of adapter pieces which are selectively usable at the oil filter port individually or in combination with a selected one of said secondary adapters fitting to the oil filter port of substantially most internal combustion engines and creating a liquid tight seal therewith;   each said primary flushing system adapter within said set of adapters including: a body having an inlet and an outlet side and defining first and second fluid passage means between said inlet and outlet sides, said body including means for coupling said first fluid passage means to said first passage of said oil filter port and said second fluid passage means to said second passage of said oil filter port;   said first fluid passage means having a predetermined cross section area sufficient to cover said first passage of said oil filter port, said first passage of said oil filter port having a cross section area, A1, and said second fluid passage means having a predetermined cross section area, At, and wherein the ratio of flow through said A1 and At is essentially a predetermined constant.     
     
     
       9. The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein said predetermined constant is 4. 
     
     
       10. The invention as defined in claim 8, comprising in combination therewith: coupling means for coupling said inlet side of said primary lubrication adapter to receive flushing fluid from a flushing apparatus, whereby said flushing fluid is distributed in said body between said first and second fluid passage means.   
     
     
       11. The invention as defined in claim 8, wherein said predetermined flow constant is a number, including any fractional number, falling at or within the range of 2.0 and 8.0. 
     
     
       12. The invention as defined in claim 8, wherein said predetermined flow constant is the number 3.57. 
     
     
       13. An adapter set for use with an internal combustion engine flushing apparatus permitting connection of a conduit from the apparatus to the oil drain pan plug port: coupling means having an inlet side and an outlet side, with said outlet side being connected to said flushing apparatus;   an oil drain pan plug port adapter set, comprising a primary adapter set and a secondary adapter set, said adapter set comprised of a plurality of adapter pieces which are selectively usable at the drain pan plug port, each of said adapter pieces being individually connectable to said inlet side of said coupling means;   said coupling means further comprising: a first base portion and a second base portion, said base portions defining an axially extending fluid passage therethrough;   said first base portion, including conduit coupling means for coupling to a hose from said flushing equipment;   said second base portion, including thread means for coupling to said drain pan port adapter;   said first base portion being rotatably mounted to said second base portion to permit said first base portion to be rotatably moved relative to said second base portion; and   rotary gland means, said rotary gland means being mounted between said first and base second portions for preventing leakage of fluid from said fluid passage from the juncture between said first and second base portions without restricting rotatable movement therebetween;   said rotary gland further comprising: O-ring seal means defining a circle, said O-ring seal means frictionally engaging said first and second base portions and circumscribing said fluid passage to provide a fluid seal between said base portions, while permitting one of said base portions to frictionally slide against said O-ring seal means responsive to relative rotational movement between said first and second base portions.